News

The first major rewrite of zoning rules governing Fairfax’s manufactured home communities since the 1970s soon could head to county supervisors by the end of this year.

If approved, the new regulations would guide future development at the seven existing residential parks, which are mostly located in the Route 1 corridor. They also potentially would provide more protections for residents in cases of redevelopment or other displacement.


Around Town

A group of Northern Virginia residents who bonded through their shared love of live music now hopes to translate that passion into support for a worthy cause — and a memorable goodbye for a local band.

NoVA Live Music Mingle will host its first-ever fundraiser tonight (Thursday) at Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern (697 Spring Street) in Herndon to benefit the music education program StudioRock of Northern Virginia.


Countywide
A cardinal sits on a power line in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Families Challenge Army Response to DCA Crash — “The Army has avoided accountability and shirked oversight months after the deadly midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter in Washington, dozens of family members said in a letter to the Army’s top official, calling for action and greater transparency.” [Washington Post]

WNBA Game at Mason to Bring Traffic — “Due to a WNBA game at EagleBank Arena w/5k attendees expected, there will be an increased volume of traffic on/around GMU’s campus + increase in on-campus parking on Thursday, July 10, from 4-10pm. Subscribe to Mason alerts (ready.gmu.edu/masonalert) for details on high impact areas + alt routes.” [Supervisor James Walkinshaw/Bluesky]

Algae Spotted in Reston’s Lake Anne — “RA watershed staff members have observed a small occurrence of potentially harmful blue-green algae on Lake Anne. While swimming is never permitted in the lake, it is additionally recommended to keep dogs from the lake water at this time. ” Blue-green algae was also seen earlier this month in Lake Audubon. [Reston Association]

Local Activist Group Plans Rally — “In honor of civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, Herndon Reston Indivisible is hosting a Good Trouble Lives On rally on Thursday, July 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Baron Cameron Park, which is located at 11300 Baron Cameron Ave. in Reston.” The group previously drew an estimated 2,000 people to its “No Kings” rallies on June 14, part of a nationwide anti-Trump protest movement. [Patch]

Falls Church Considers Parking Ticket Aides — “Falls Church officials are considering whether to allow public safety aides to issue parking tickets, direct traffic and respond to abandoned vehicles. Under current Falls Church city code, only sworn law enforcement officers have the ability to conduct parking and traffic control.” [ARLnow]

When Mount Vernon Mansion Might Reopen — “Visitors at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate will have to wait until this December to see the founding father’s fully renovated mansion.” Sections have been closed since last November as part of a multi-year, comprehensive restoration project that began in 2019. The mansion will be open, except for the cellar, during the final phase of work from December through September 2026. [ALXnow]

Adult Education Scholarships Available — “Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education (FCPS ACE) invites students interested in careers in the skilled trades to apply for a scholarship. Current and prospective FCPS ACE students can apply for a $1,000 scholarship that can be used toward upcoming apprenticeship classes starting this fall. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15.” [Annandale Today]

Free French Fries at Big Buns — Reston-based Thompson Hospitality’s burger chain, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers, will celebrate National French Fry Day — a relatively new occasion organized by Checkers and Rally’s — by offering free regular or Cajun fries with any burger, sammie or bowl purchase tomorrow (Friday). “Just use code FRYORCRY25 online or mention it in-store. This deal is only valid July 11th, so don’t let this FRYday pass you by.” [Big Buns]

It’s Thursday — Showers and thunderstorms are expected throughout the day. The sky will be mostly cloudy, with a high temperature near 85 and a 60% chance of precipitation. At night, chances of showers and thunderstorms decrease to 30%, with a low temperature around 72. [NWS]


Event

Flowers, Fine Art & Fashion is an immersive cultural experience presented by People of The Garden LLC, where nature, creativity, and modest couture converge in a breathtaking indoor garden setting.

Guests will journey through a living landscape featuring dramatic floral installations, botanical art, and a one-of-a-kind rectangular runway designed around lush greenery and sculptural plantings. Throughout the evening, attendees will experience a curated runway presentation showcasing modest fashion designers, alongside original fine art, artisan vendors, and interactive floral experiences.


Around Town

Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Jul 9, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect showers and thunderstorms mainly before 2pm and between 2-3pm, with additional possibilities after 3pm, under mostly cloudy skies and a high near 85. The southwest wind will be mild at 3-5 mph, and the chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall may be under a tenth of an inch, with more possible during thunderstorms. For Thursday night, showers and storms are likely before 11pm, followed by showers until 2am. The weather will remain mostly cloudy with a low near 72, a light south wind, and a 30% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


Countywide

Update — More than 10,000 Dominion Energy customers in Fairfax County have lost power as thunderstorms sweep through the D.C. region.

As of 7:20 p.m., the outages appear to be concentrated in the south central part of the county, from Newington up to the Falls Church area, according to the utility’s outage map.


Around Town

Reston’s new-and-improved Whole Foods Market is expected to open next month.

After months of construction, the new grocery store is scheduled to open in the Spectrum at Reston Town Center on Aug. 6 at 8 a.m., the company announced today (Wednesday). It’s located at 1861 Fountain Drive where Best Buy once stood.


Around Town

Vienna’s Cedar Park Shopping Center will welcome a hardware store later this year.

Signage for the forthcoming Ace Hardware has begun to appear outside 264 Cedar Lane SE, which formerly housed CVS Pharmacy until April of this year.


News

How do you like walking around Fairfax City? A new study could redesign the city’s streets to improve the pedestrian experience with a particular emphasis on safety.

The City of Fairfax was awarded a federal grant to develop a citywide safety action plan, a circulation study for Old Town Fairfax, and a citywide pedestrian master plan — all under the umbrella of an initiative called Move Fairfax City.